Chapter 47 47. Hunters Grin
"Jyestha (Elder brother), We still give up that easily, This time those bad omens tried to kill Bhrata Bheem, What if next time they-"
The youngest, Nakul among the five of them, was still not satisfied with the decision of their elder brother Yudhisther to ignore the injuries of Bheem and not ask for justice.
Their Pitamaha (Great-Grandfather) rejected him sternly when he wanted to bring those bad omen into the court making him doubt that he was in favour of those people then them.
"Shut up Nakul, Don't say these words, Nothing will happen Anuj (Younger brother) Bheem, He is Dev-Putra (Demi-God), Also stop calling cousins bad omen, They all are also our brothers."
Before Yudhisther could say anything, Shadev, the Second youngest and twin brother of Nakul spoke up and sternly criticised his way of speaking about their cousins.
He is the smartest among them and also has received talent and knowledge about astrology.
So he can sense that if his brothers walk on the same path they will fall into disaster, Noo wrong he knows disaster has already made its way towards them, Ready to make them fall.
They had to change as soon as possible and made amends with their cousins. He told this countless times but this idea always gets rejected when they take a vote among them.
The reason is that astrology is not that accurate to predict the future and he also agrees with that, Sometimes it was very hard to read what stars had written for them.
But it was not one of these times, He can quite literally see their doom at the end, But once again his attempts are futile, He also cannot reveal too many secrets of the heavens to make them agree to him.
This is a drawback of trying to see the future. As for seeing the future you have to use the power of heaven, which does not come for free. You have to give part of your life each time you try to peep into the future.
And not only that, but He is also restricted by the same forces so he cannot reveal much or he quite literally dies before he even finishes his words.
So he can only warn her as much as the laws allow him but his brother could not listen to reason. They already think that their cousins were after him because they showed hostility when they arrived here.
He gets why those cousins of his showed them hostility. They thought that their elder brother was king and now a new person pop-up out of nowhere trying to take the place of their elder brother.
So anyone can be angry and hostile, Even he will get angry over it, That's why he gets their inner struggle to accept Pandavas.
If only his other brother calmed down and tried to understand them, They could make them understand that they want no harm to their cousins but his brothers did not listen to their reasons.
And now after the Bheem incident, The last hope was also extinguished, Kauravas and Pandavas are now officially enemies, Which last thing he wanted to happen.
"Duryodhan, Can you explain why my brother is like this?"
Nakul did not listen to Shadeva, His brother got beaten brutally, and He needed justice for him, So when he saw Suyodhan he went to him and asked for justice.
Everyone in the room turned towards him, As his words of calling Suyodhana, Duryodhan shocked everyone.
Kinti though had her usual neutral face but was gloating in her eyes, After all, she knows they call him behind his back, She was also not bothered by these words.
After all, the more hate there is between them the more she had a chance to be queen mother. She wanted to make her eldest son king of Hastinapur no matter what.
It was her dream. There was no control of her in her childhood nor did in her adulthood.
First her father decided without asking her which made Pritha a daughter of the Yadav clan, A Kunti daughter of the Kuntibhoja king.
Her husband decided without asking her and made her share their first night with another woman, Who was more beautiful and younger than her.
Even the man she thought she could spend the rest of her life with disarms the arms of a woman she saw as a rival, She utterly failed, As a daughter, and a wife but she will never fail as queen.
She wanted that control back, And for that she can do everything, Even if that means there will be destruction all around, Kunti could get what she wants once in her life.
"What did you say-"
Gandhari was furious, How can Nakul call her Suyodhan (Good in arms) as Duryodhan (Bad In arms* Weapons).
She can bear everything but she can't bear it if someone tries to harm her children. Now she feels even worse. If these people in front of her dared to call her son then what are they doing behind her back?
The guilt of not being able to give time to her children was eating her alive but there was no way to relieve it, So that guilt turned into anger as she roared at Nakul.
"What a good name indeed, Duryodhan, A best suitable name for Yuvraj of Haustinapur don't you think Eklavya?"
But before she could say anything, Karna cut her off mid-sentence with admiration on his face and sweet praising words in the mount but deep in his eyes was gloating. It was a grin hunter had when he saw his prey catch his bait.
Karna was looking at them but his mind already started to spin gears and he even made a hamster in his mind to work extra hard as he started to lure them into the trap he laid for them.
"Angraj, how can Duryodhan's name be suitable for Suyodhan?"
A voice came but it was neither from this group nor from the Eklavay but from a third party, Who just entered the chamber.
Bheeshama looked at the group standoff and broke out in cold sweat as he saw the look in Karna's eyes, The same look he used before he trapped him in his own words, So he did not dare to let Pandavas talk.
He spoke through making it look like it was from a neutral side but anyone who saw it clearly can tell he was tilting the side of Pandavas a little.
"It's not good to call this Sutputra, Angraj, Mahamahim, He was yet to be crowned as a king."
A man next to Bheeshma spoke with clear disgust for Karna in his voice, He was quite intelligent looking and he also was, After all this man is the smartest man in Hastinapur, Vidur, Of course after everyone's favourite/hated Mama (Uncle).
'They are here. Now move towards the 2nd phase, Hehe.'
When Karna saw two of them coming, Other than becoming panicked, He became even more excited. Why would he not after all he was waiting for these pawns to arrive.
During these two years, he not just wasted time with his group of girls but he also did a proper study of Hastinapur politics, So he was well aware of Vidur, There were also small interactions with him.
And as you can tell they can mix that well, Which created a feud between them. Whenever Karna spoke something Vidur would definitely say it in opposition, Same for Karna, If Vidur said something he too would not forget to oppose it.
The same thing happened today too. It was no different than other times, At least others think so.
"O 'Great Mahamahim, Why does Duryodhan 's name not sound good for my Mitra? Duryodhan means Unconquerable, Impossible to win in a night. A man born from the boon of Lord Shiva should deserve this mighty name, right?
This servant said, "I did not have gold coins on me. If I did, I would have given it to him as a reward for suggesting this great name for future Yuvraj."
Karna this time ignored Vidur's presence totally making him frustrated by getting humiliated by Sutputra.
While Bheeshma heard Karna's words and nodded, He agreed this name was indeed suitable for Suyodhan as it shows his might and the blessing he got from Lord Shiva himself.
'So Bheesma not too much of a lost cause, There is a chance to bring him to dar*Ahem* outside.'
Karna, seeing Bheeshma genuinely admires the new name suggestion without being too partial, Understands that only when it comes to Pandavas this guy becomes hard to bear, Normally he should be a chill guy.
He just had a habit of abducting a few princesses and ruining their life, That's all.
"Wait? That person is not served, Radheya. He is Nakul's youngest Pandava."
Bheeshma realised why Karna said in his words again, He did this the second time, This man was definitely trying to provoke Pandavas to do something stupid that he can use against them.
So he quickly interfered and prevented directly talking with them, He also with his eyes warned Kunti, Which she also understood and handled her sons, So they did not do anything.
Vidur also saw it and quickly started to think about how to counter Karna.
'This little guy is cooking something in that small mind of his.'
Gandhari did not speak after Karna cut her off mid-sentence, She understands there might be a reason for him preventing her from speaking and now looking at him, She confirmed her doubt.
She knew Karna was once again up to his shenanigans like before.
Other children's party was just looking at him with confusion other than Vikram, As though not totally understanding what is happening but he can understand more than others in his age group, Just like Shadeva right now.
"Sutputra, Duryodhan was not crowned as Yuvraj, So stop calling him that as it sends the wrong message."
Vidur, not understanding who Karna targeted among the Pandavas, Decided to stop being defensive and go full offence. He can see Karna supporting Suyodhana, so he decides to target him, making him lose focus on Pandavas.
"He is not YET, As the son of the current king, He had all right over being Yuvraj, This is what royal rules say, right?"
Karna this time looked arrogantly at Vidur saying these words as if this is his ace card, He used this to defend Suyodhan being the Yuraja and then future king.
Seeing this corner of Vidur's lip raised upward as he saw through Karna.
'He is a child, after all, Leaked the most sensitive information, Which now that it brings up can point figures at.'
Vidur thought, He always wanted to reject the right of Suyodhan over the throne as apparently, the Current king was never crowned as a king, So he was ruling over as king but not crowned as one.
So he does not have any right of the king, So neither do his kids.
"Current king never got crowned as a king, So he did not have any right of the king and likewise his children also did not have any right over the throne."
So Vidur said And was happy to see the light over Karna's face dimmed. He felt proud that he made this arrogant guy helpless.
"Hey, That's true but old King Pandu has also given up his Kingdom and taken a Sanyas before going into Canvas, Where Rajmata Madari and Kunti gave birth- asked his kids, At that time Pandu was a sanyasi, without anything of his own as he gave up going into Vansavs.
So, the question is if the father does not have it then how can his children get it? Please make it sense, As Both sections of Kauravas and Pandavas are kinda the same, At least the current king still has a kingdom under his right, Which can be given to his kind.
Sorry to say it but Pandu did not, So his kids did not have any right over the throne nor anything in this kingdom, Heck they were not even considered the princes as their "father" was a forest dweller, didn't he?"
But then Karna looked straight into Vidur's's eyes and spoke, making Vidur speechless not knowing what to say.
The point Karna raised was too logical, Which was also an obvious loophole in their right of asking for the throne. It's just that he never thought that anyone would point it out there. After all, it was a very sensitive matter with lots of emotions attached to it.
No one in the family would want to bring that out to cause suffering but Karna did it without hesitation making him frustrated. That is why he was not playing according to routine.
"Still, Suyodhan can not become a Yuvraj as there was a bad omen when he was born, So please drop the idea."
In desperation, He too decided to use point sensitivity to another group, The birth of Suyodhan, That night when bad omens started appearing all over Hastinapur.
So this was a proper reason to not let him become a Yuraj.
Hearing his words everyone's faces changed to, The most dangerous one was Gandhari, As her eyes were spitting fire of Rage, She will never forget nor forgive these people who tried to kill her newborn baby.
"And who says that? You know sometimes those astrologers are fake, You might be got scammed by them."
Karna avoids eye contact with Vidur as if he is fearing to confront him.
"How can that be? I myself read the stars and signs which clearly say Duryodhan is a bad omen."
Vidur's confidence got boasted as he was Karna did not dare to look at him, It was his clear victory, Or he thought so.
'Ohh No!!!!'
Bheesham's face turned white seeing a change of expression not of Gandhari but Karna, As he now has PTSD from that smile. He felt it in his heart this guy was up to no good.
"Treason!!!!"
Karna responded to fear in Bheeshma's heart, He stood up and pointed his finger at Vidur directly pointing at him with a wide grin on his enchanting face.
(A/N: Yoo, Go read my other novel "Surviving In The Woman's World As Novel Villain." if you have time.
Technically it is after said day, So there is a full extra words chapter.
Also sorry for the bad grammar and all, I literally finished writing this at 1:27 Am, So I don't have time to fix the mistake or even to read and find them.
I will fix them later but not soon, As there is too much work I had to yet.
Like always thank you for reading and have a good day ??.)